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Best Buy 400 Preview

Jun 1, 2008 - 10:19 AM

June 1, 2008
Dover International Speedway
Dover, Delaware 
Race 13 of 36 on Sprint Cup circuit 

TV: Fox, 1:30 p.m. EDT

Laps: 400 
Track length: 1 mile 
Race length: 400 miles

Qualifying record: Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 161.522 mph, 2004
Race record: Mark Martin, Ford, 132.719 mph, 1997


DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Jeff Burton 
Team: Richard Childress Racing 
Car: No. 31 Chevrolet Impala 
2008 Earnings: $2,103,434

One of the circuit's most consistent drivers, finished sixth in 
the Coca-Cola 600 and sits second in the standings, 94 points 
behind Kyle Busch; won at Bristol for first win of the season; 
finished 13th in the Daytona 500 and eighth at California; was 
fifth in Las Vegas and 10th at Atlanta; finished eighth in last 
season's standings, one year after placing seventh; finished in 
the top 10 in half of the races last season, including nine top 
fives; lone win of the 2007 season came in April at Texas; 
finished the season strong with five top-10s over the final six 
races; ran 12th in this race last season.


Kurt Busch 
Team: Penske Racing South 
Car: No. 2 Dodge Charger
2008 Earnings: $2,105,625

Pushed teammate Ryan Newman across the finish line to give 
Penske Racing a 1-2 finish in the Daytona 500; has not had a 
top-10 finish since; was 11th at Atlanta for his second-best
finish of the season; bounced back from an inconsistent first 
year with Penske to finish seventh in the standings last year; 
won at Michigan and Pocono and posted 14 top-10 finishes; also 
had four finishes of 30th or worse; won the championship in 2004 
but was released from his contract at Roush Racing after the 
following season, when he finished 10th in the standings and was 
suspended for the final two races after an incident with the 
Phoenix police; finished 16th at Lowe's and sits 22nd in the 
standings; finished 42nd in this event last year.


Kyle Busch 
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing 
Car: No. 18 Toyota Camry 
2008 Earnings: $2,943,064

Is in the midst of a stellar first season with Joe Gibbs Racing, 
winning three races and posting eight top-fives through 12 
races; finished 17th at Bristol after power steering failed and 
transmission issues relegated him to 38th at Martinsville; won 
at Atlanta, Talladega and Darlington; leads Jeff Burton by 94 
points atop the standings; runner-up finish at Richmond was 
marred by a late-race incident with Dale Earnhardt Jr.; had the 
dominant car and led the most laps at the Daytona 500; was 
strong at Las Vegas early, but struggled late and wound up 11th; 
is looking to build off a sensational run at Hendrick 
Motorsports as he moves to JGR and Toyota; finished fifth in 
the final 2007 standings after qualifying for the Chase for the 
second consecutive season; had 20 top-10 finishes in 36 races 
last season, including 11 top-fives; lone win came during the 
first Bristol race - the inaugural Car of Tomorrow event; ran 
17th in this race last year.


Dale Earnhardt Jr. 
Team: Hendrick Motorsports 
Car: No. 88 Chevrolet Impala 
2008 Earnings: $2,093,770

The circuit's most popular driver lost a chance to snap long
winless drought when he was involved in a late-race incident 
with Kyle Busch at Richmond and wound up 15th; still sits third
in the standings with nine top-10s through 12 races; ran fifth 
at Bristol after a third at Atlanta and second at Las Vegas; was 
the top finishing Hendrick car at the Daytona 500 with a 
ninth-place showing; was involved in an early race crash at 
California and finished 40th; made the move from his father's 
Dale Earnhardt Inc., where he won 17 Cup events, to Hendrick 
Motorsports; got off to a good start with his new team by 
winning the Bud Shootout; has not won a points race since 
Richmond in May 2006; suffered through a tough final season at 
DEI, finishing 16th in the standings; had 12 top-10s last season, 
but also posted 11 finishes of 25th or worse; finished 22nd in 
this race last season.


Carl Edwards 
Team: Roush Fenway Racing 
Car: No. 99 Ford Fusion
2008 Earnings: $3,023,225

Won at Texas for his third win of the season; was docked 100 
points and fell from the top spot in the standings after being 
penalized after his win at Las Vegas; victory at Texas was his 
10th career Cup win; had the dominant car again at Atlanta, but 
blew an engine and finished 42nd; ran 19th in the Daytona 500; 
qualified for the Chase last year and won at Dover after placing
12th at New Hampshire, but failed post-race inspection and was 
docked 25 points and fined; penalty dropped him from third to 
sixth in the standings and he never recovered; won the 2007 
NASCAR Busch Series championship; finished with 11 top-fives 
and 15 top-10s last year; also won at Michigan and Bristol; was 
second to Kyle Busch at Darlington; ran third at this race last 
year.


Jeff Gordon 
Team: Hendrick Motorsports 
Car: No. 24 Chevrolet Impala 
2008 Earnings: $2,171,161

Finished fourth at Lowe's and sits 10th in the standings; ran 
second at Martinsville; rebounded to finish fifth at Atlanta 
after being involved in a scary late-race crash at Las Vegas 
where he finished 35th; bounced back with a third at California 
after opening his 2008 season with a disappointing 39th in the 
Daytona 500; already has three DNFs this season after posting 
just one last year; only a dominant finish by teammate Jimmie 
Johnson kept him from capturing a fifth championship last season; 
finished with 10 top-10 finishes in the final 11 races - the 
other finish in that span was an 11th at Dover; totaled a 
remarkable 30 top-10 finishes and 21 top-fives in 36 races last 
year; spun with less than two laps remaining at Watkins Glen 
while leading, costing him another potential win - still managed 
to finish ninth; had six checkered flags last season and 81 
career, just two shy of tying Cale Yarborough for fifth place 
all-time; had 10 poles last season - double that of Ryan Newman 
who had five; ran ninth at this race last season.


Jimmie Johnson 
Team: Hendrick Motorsports 
Car: No. 48 Chevrolet Impala 
2008 Earnings: $2,322,541

Two-time defending series champion blew a motor at Lowe's and 
finished in 39th place; picked up his first win of the season 
at Phoenix, then ran 13th at Talladega and 30th at Richmond; 
finished second at Texas following a fourth at Martinsville; had 
a disappointing three-race stretch at Las Vegas, Atlanta and 
Bristol when his average finish was 20th; ran second at 
California after starting this campaign with a 27th at the 
Daytona 500; sits sixth in the standings; battled teammate 
Gordon for the top spot in the Chase early last season, then 
took off - winning four straight races over the second half of 
the Chase; suffered through an up-and-down season before the 
Chase, finishing 39th at the Brickyard after a fiery crash on 
the heels of a 37th at Chicago; finished the season with 10 wins, 
20 top-fives, 24 top-10s and failed to finish four races; 
finished 15th in this race last year. 


Matt Kenseth 
Team: Roush Fenway Racing 
Car: No. 17 Ford Fusion
2008 Earnings: $1,995,430

Moved up to 16th after running seventh at Lowe's and sixth at 
Darlington; finished 38th at Richmond and 41st at Talladega; ran 
38th at Phoenix following a ninth at Texas and 30th at 
Martinsville; had consecutive top-10s at Bristol and Atlanta; 
was 20th at Las Vegas due to a late-race incident with Jeff 
Gordon; ran fifth at California, fresh off a disappointing 35th 
place showing at the Daytona 500; last season had a late-Chase 
surge with a win at the season-ending race at Homestead, 
following a third at Phoenix and a second at Texas; finished 
fourth in the final standings; had 13 top-five finishes and 22 
top 10s last season; won the series championship in 2003 
despite capturing only one checkered flag, prompting NASCAR to 
change to its current Chase format; enters this season without 
long-time crew chief Robbie Reiser who has been replaced atop 
the box by Chip Bolin; ran fifth in this race last year.


Tony Stewart 
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing 
Car: No. 20 Toyota Camry
2008 Earnings: $2,680,673

Came close to winning at Lowe's, but cut down a tire with three
laps remaining while leading and finished 18th; with rumors 
swirling about his future at JGR, finished 38th at Talladega; 
bounced back to finish fourth at Richmond; ran 14th at Phoenix 
following back-to-back top-10 finishes at Martinsville and 
Texas; finished second to teammate Kyle Busch at Atlanta, but 
was vocal about the poor Goodyear tire quality; suffered a hard 
crash at Las Vegas, injured his ankle and finished last; had 
another disappointment at Daytona, finishing third despite 
having the lead with one lap to go; took sixth at California 
after the Daytona 500; moved within two points of the points 
lead after the first two Chase races last year, but could not 
keep pace with Johnson and Gordon and faded to sixth in the 
final standings; finished second at Richmond to enter the Chase 
on a hot streak; pre-Chase surge included fourth at Bristol as 
well as running 10th at Michigan on the heels of winning at 
Watkins Glen - his third win; captured back-to-back victories 
at Chicagoland and at the Brickyard; won three races in total to 
go along with 23 top-10s; ran 40th in this race last year.

2007 Top 10
-----------
 1. Martin Truex Jr. (1), Chevrolet
 2. Ryan Newman (12), Dodge
 3. Carl Edwards (99), Ford
 4. Denny Hamlin (11), Chevrolet
 5. Matt Kenseth (17), Ford
 6. Greg Biffle (16), Ford
 7. Mark Martin (01), Chevrolet
 8. Clint Bowyer (07), Chevrolet
 9. Jeff Gordon (24), Chevrolet
10. Robby Gordon (7), Ford

Past Champions
--------------
2007  Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 118.959 mph
2006  Matt Kenseth, Ford, 109.865 mph
2005  Greg Biffle, Ford, 122.626 mph
2004  Mark Martin, Ford, 97.042 mph
2003  Ryan Newman, Dodge, 108.802 mph
2002  Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 120.805 mph
2001  Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 101.559 mph
2000  Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 115.191 mph
1999  Mark Martin, Ford, 127.434 mph
1998  Mark Martin, Ford, 113.834 mph
1997  Mark Martin, Ford, 132.719 mph
1996  Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 122.741 mph
1995  Kyle Petty, Pontiac, 119.880 mph
1994  Rusty Wallace, Ford, 102.529 mph
1993  Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 105.600 mph
1992  Harry Gant, Oldsmobile, 109.456 mph
1991  Ken Schrader, Chevrolet, 120.152 mph
1990  Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 123.960 mph
1989  Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 121.670 mph
1988  Bill Elliott, Ford, 118.726 mph
1987  Davey Allison, Ford, 112.958 mph
1986  Geoff Bodine, Chevrolet, 115.009 mph
1985  Bill Elliott, Ford, 123.094 mph
1984  Richard Petty, Pontiac, 118.717 mph
1983  Bobby Allison, Buick, 114.847 mph
1982  Bobby Allison, Chevrolet, 120.136 mph
1981  Jody Ridley, Ford, 116,595 mph
1980  Bobby Allison, Ford, 113.866 mph
1979  Neil Bonnett, Mercury, 111.269 mph
1978  David Pearson, Mercury, 114.664 mph
1977  Cale Yarborough, Chevrolet, 123.327 mph
1976  Benny Parsons, Chevrolet, 115.436 mph
1975  David Pearson, Mercury, 100.820 mph
1974  Cale Yarborough, Chevrolet, 119.990 mph
1973  David Pearson, Mercury, 119.745 mph
1972  Bobby Allison, Chevrolet, 118.663 mph
1971  Bobby Allison, Ford, 123.119 mph
1970  Richard Petty, Plymouth, 112.103 mph
1969  Richard Petty, Ford, 115.772 mph